Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1887-10-17
A CHASTITY INCIDENT.
DEATH INvADES THE PRESIDENTIAL
FESTIVITIES AT MEMPHIS,


Side of the City's Guest-Judge Elicit
Suddenly Taken just After His We'll
coming Address-A Mishap at Mckenzie
AT Belle Mead Farm.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. Oct IA sad occur
renee marked the presidents visit to Mem
phis, in the sudden death on the stand in the
midst of the festivities Saturday of Judge
Elicit, an aged and highly honored citizen of
that place, who had been selected as the ora
tor to deliver the welcoming address. The
judge was 80 years old and his death cast a
gloom on the presidents party as well as over
the whole city, which will not be soon dissi
pated
The procession Saturday was delayed in
starting until 9:45 a. m, nearly an hour late,
and the line of march was curtailed in con-
sequence. The objective point was hand
somely decorated platform in the court house
square, which was reached at 1880 and the
presidential party at once escorted to their
places thereon Judge Elicit, of the chancery
court, then arose and delivered an eloquent
address, in the course of which he referred
to the late sunpleasantness, saying that diff
ferences in the Interpretation of the
constitution resulted in the south TAX
ing up arms in yindication of its
view of the question, and bloody war The
south had been worsfed and bowed to the
logic of events, and had labored since to re-
construct their broken fortunes. He said
that the principal result of the conflict was
the overthrow of the theory that a state
had right to secede and the establishment
of the indestructbility of the Union on q
firm foundation. He said that the feature
that distinguished this presidential trip from
all others was that it was in no sense pollt-
| ical, and closed with graceful tribute to
Mrs Cleveland.
In his reply the president referred to the
wonderful growth of the west, and said that
here he saw both growth and astonishing re-
cuperation He adverted to the sufferings OF
Memphis from yellow fever, the ready re-
| Spouse of the country to the cry for help at
| that time, and the recovery of the city from
| the devastation caused thereby, and referring
| to the Judges remarks concerning the union,
said:
| The patriotic sentiment expressed on your be.
half by your honored fellow citizen in his address
| of welcome am sure may say will be generously
| responded to by your countrymen OF the north.
| They want. believe. rest from sectional bitter
ness, and they know that the destiny Of our couu-
try is only to be achieved by true union in sent
| ment, in feeling as well as name The business
| interests of our people are too alert and intei
| gent TO be sacrificed injured by selfish appeal
| to passion which should BE- allayet They only i'll
sist that all the results of the arbrament of arms
| to which reference has here been made, shall be
| fully retained and inforced.
| He closed with few words in favor of i'm
| provement of the Mississippi river and thanks
for the kind welcome he had received A
| public reception then began and continued
| about an hour, when the party was driven to
| the train and started for this city.
| Just before the president had concluded
his speech Judge Elicit was observed bv those
nearest him TO turn deadly pale and sit down
| quickly upon chair near him. His eyes
! were closed when the bystanders reached
him and immediate efforts were made to
arouse him from the faint into which he had
| apparently passed The president stopped
| in his speech and both he and
| Mrs Cleveland started toward the dying
man, but the throng about him prevented
them from reaching him, and the president
went on with his speech. All this time nc
| one but those Immediately about Judge ELL
| EFT knew the truth-that he was to all intsnts
and purposes dead-and Dr. Bryant, who
had exhausted his skill in vain attempts to
revive the judge, finally left his side and re-
| ported to the president that the judge had
tainted Neither did the crowd present know
| of the fact, and went on with the reception
until the presidents departure. When che
| president and Mrs Cleveland were informed
| of the truth they were inexpressibly shocked,
and expressed their sorrow aud sympathy in
| the most feeling terms,
| The run to this city was without event
! worthy of note, except an occurrence at Me.
| kenzie, where the train was transferred TO
| the tracks of the Nashville x Chattanooga
from those of the Louisville & Nashville, and
| here ludicrous mistake made There
being a large throng gathered ami a stand
| built, the mayor induced Mr. and Mrs Cleve-
! land and Col Villas to alight while the trans
| fer was being made and greet the assembled
| people. While this was going on the change
OF tracks was accomplished and Manager
| Thomas special car was added to the special
Not aware that the president was not aboard,
| Mr.. Thomas gave the signal to start and
| away it went, leaving the Hamlet entirely
| ont of the play. As the train rapidly pulled
! away from the station the president had a
new experience-that of getting left
Agent Baldwin becoming aware of what
| was going on, rushed to the front and asked
| the general manager where he was going,
receiving the answer: why, to Nashville
of course"
without the president and Mrs Cleve-
land" inquired Mr.. Baldwin.
"Why, no, they are on board, replied the
general manager
To the astonishment of the latter, Mr.
Baldwin informed him that he was mistaken;
that the president and his wife We're not on
the train, but at the station waiting to get
on A quick order was given to stop and
second one to back. 1t was several minutes
before the latter order could be carried out
the engine not being able to back the heavy
Pullman cars up the steep grade. 1t was
finally accomplished, however, and the nota.
bic travellers boarded the train and minute
later another start was made for Nashville,
this time with the party complete.
The special arrived at Belle Mead few
minutes past O'Clock p. m. Saturday The
presidential party were met at the station by
Gen jackson and Judge jackson, who es-
corted the members of the party in carriages
to their respective homes, whers they re
manned until Monday morning the president
Mrs. Cleveland and Col Lamont being thu
guests Of Gen. Jackson, and the postmaster
general and Mrs Villas, Mr.. Bissell, and DIR
Bryant the guests of Judge Jackson
Belle Mead is one of the finest stock farms
in the south, is about 4 900 acres in extent,
and is magnificent estate. 1t is divided
into field park and forest and roaming at
will in the latter is herd of about 300 deer,
almost as wild as if not confined ut all These
were made the means Sunday of entertaining
the President and party. "Uncle Bob" an
old eolored man who has chief care of this
fine place, was the guide, an after breakfast
he was given the post OF showing the presi-
dent through the grounds. First the cee-
brated flyers under his care we're the obj ects
of admiration of the yist0Ts There were
Bramble, Enquirer, Luke Blackburn and
Great Tom, with other tboroaghbre Is to lie
seen, and the old man showed them with con-
scous pride, and described their good points
with great gusto
Then the deer park was visited, AMI the
deer having been got together, were driven
st run past tue pres who with Mrs
Cleveland and the others viewed the scene
with delight The old mans cup of joy was
filled to overlooking when be was permitted
to shake hands with the president He said
he had seen several presidents but never
shaken hands with one before He said the
chief magistrate wasa hearty looking man"
and was ecstatic over Mrs Cleveland
"Dat lady sartinly am queen and goody-
goodness, but she does like fine boss Dat
pet of mine Luke Blackburn seems to catch
her eve like dat lady. | do"